There will be no Zimbabwe-style
land invasions in South Africa, because "we do things within the law", President
Jacob Zuma said at a
constitutional symposium in Johannesburg."There
will be no similar kinds of land invasions in this country, because we do things
within the law."

Zuma did not mention Zimbabwe specifically, but fears
that South Africa would go the Zimbabwe route in terms of land invasions had
been raised by civil society groups and opposition political
parties.

"Significant changes will need to be made to the 'willing buyer,
willing seller' model."

Zuma said the current land redistribution method must
however be revisited.

"Significant changes will need to be made to the
'willing buyer, willing seller' model.

"Government is investigating less
costly ways of land redistribution."

He said the government was working
on a much more "pragmatic" formula.

"The general view is that the
'willing buyer, willing seller' model has not worked appropriately or adequately
thus far.

"It is very important, however, that it's done within the
ambits of the law," he said.

In a wide-ranging address, Zuma spoke about
transformation, the independence of the judiciary, defending the Constitution
and respect for cultural diversity in South Africa.

He said he would be
opening a debate very soon to challenge South Africans to be "in dialogue about
ourselves, about who we are".

"We have never as a nation tried to unpack
this diversity."

He said the Constitution tells us to respect each
other's cultures, however "some give themselves the authority to judge
others".

It was important for the soul of the nation to talk about
diversity.

"We are united in our diversity... we need to reach a point
where we all agree. Let us respect each other's cultures."

He said this
dialogue would not be driven politically or by government.

"It would give
a chance for every South African to say who we are, what we are, and how must we
handle ourselves as a nation," he said.

The constitutional symposium,
organised by the Black Management Forum, was looking at unintended consequences
of certain sections of the Constitution.